Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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709. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 853 of 14 February 2023, if a timeline will be provided for the review of the implementation of the PDS service model. [8852/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the consideration being given to enhancement of services, the PDS Roadmap will seek to examine the implementation of the CDNT model of service by way of progressing an independent review. The Department is in fully engaged with the HSE in relation to finalising the Roadmap document.

This process will include an examination of timelines for all actions within the Roadmap. The detailed actions will form a programme of activity across 2023 designed to enhance access to services.

The assessment of the CDNT model of service will form part of this programme and it is expected that once the Roadmap is finalised the specific timeframe for the assessment will be agreed.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Minister for Health if it is acknowledged by his Department that the PDS service model is not delivering consistent services to all children who require them; if it is accepted that many of these children have been regressing in recent months as a consequence; if the attention of his Department has been drawn to reports that parents feel forced to obtain services from private providers at much cost; and the action that is being taken to ensure the PDS model is delivering for these children. [8853/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People (PDS) programme is agreed Government and HSE policy and seeks to address the previous inequity in service provision whereby there may have been an excellent service for some children and little or no service for others. However, it has been acknowledged that the transition to policy-based Children’s Disability Network Teams under the PDS Programme has been challenging for many families and staff.

Funding has been provided by Government in recent years for over 600 additional posts to enhance CDNT capacity and the HSE continue to progress a range of measures to recruit staff, having regard to the challenges that currently exist in the recruitment of health and social care professionals.

I can advise that following a meeting between the CEO of the HSE and Ministers Donnelly, O’Gorman and I last year, it was agreed by that an overarching roadmap would be developed to support all stakeholders to progress the next phase of implementation of PDS model. The roadmap document will set out the actions being proposed by the HSE to improve services for children with disabilities and developmental delays as well as their families.

As part of the consideration being given to enhancement of services, the Roadmap will seek to examine the implementation of the CDNT model of service by way of progressing an independent review. The review of the implementation will consider issues such as:

- The current literature with regard to health and social care supports for children with disabilities

- The competencies and skill mix required to support children with disabilities

- The establishment and development of the CDNTs

- An evaluation of the experience of children and families in accessing CDNT services

- An evaluation of the experience of service providers and staff, including primary Care, CAMHS staff and Disability Act Office staff, in delivering children’s service

The Department continues to engage with the HSE in relation to finalising the Roadmap document so relevant actions can be agreed and commenced.

It is envisaged that the detailed action in the Roadmap will form part of a series of initiatives across 2023 designed to enhance access to services.